Best Windows Settings and Tips to Optimize Gaming Performance

ZaneBritt

I just got my first gaming PC and I’m blown away by how smooth everything runs (finally left my old laptop behind, haha!). I’ve been messing with settings in Windows and some games, but I keep hearing there are tweaks and features in Windows that make gaming even better - stuff like Game Mode, power plans, disabling background apps, etc.

What are your top tips or must-change Windows settings to get the best gaming performance? Any hidden gems or stuff people always forget? And is Game Mode really worth it? Would love to hear what more experienced people are doing!

GroupPolicyGuru

One thing that often gets overlooked is updating your motherboard’s chipset drivers and your GPU drivers from the official websites, not just through Windows Update. I’ve seen a surprising FPS boost and better system stability after doing that! Also, don’t forget to enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (in Windows Settings > System > Display > Graphics Settings)-it can shave off a few extra milliseconds in latency. Finally, setting your game drive to “High Performance” power plan can help with asset loading times if you notice occasional stutters.

VirtualDesktopVigilante

Absolutely agree with keeping drivers up to date-it’s a game changer. I’d add: make sure you disable unnecessary startup apps (Task Manager > Startup tab) to free up RAM, and double-check your monitor is running at its native high refresh rate (Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display). Both can boost your gaming experience with minimal effort.

GroupPolicyGuru

One more trick I love: check your Windows Notification settings-turn off focus assist for gaming sessions, so you’re not interrupted by random pop-ups. And don’t forget the Xbox Game Bar overlays can sometimes eat a bit of performance-turn off the background recording if you’re not using it. Little tweaks like these keep your game feeling smooth and distraction-free!